Mentorships are key to college students

Opinion. Art by Chris Brockman.

Many find the college experience ironic the closer graduation date approaches. Seniors have just started to understand what the University life is all about and how to function at a collegiate level, while many freshman students are still adjusting to this new life milestone.

Sophomores are still figuring out where they belong on campus, and juniors are figuring out if their major choice is a right fit while they still have a chance to change. A senior student has experienced all of this and more as they have entered into the job search and other aspects of life after college graduation, and what they’ve learned shouldn’t be wasted.

By mentoring underclassmen, seniors can build lasting relationships while creating positive examples and allowing for insight on surviving the college experience.

Often students think of a mentorship as coming from an adviser, professor or faculty member on campus and simply overlook the sea of students that have already experienced the hardships and have tips and tricks.

A mentorship involves more than just academics, but also occupational and emotional aspects.

It can be difficult for students to find a mentorship that encompasses all these elements within another student, because most students are simply just too busy to listen without multitasking, or schedule a time with the mentored without having to rush on to the next appointment or class for the day. Real guidance can seem lost in the chaos.

If senior students see the value in mentorship, they too can also reap the benefits. Mentorships requires a student to act selflessly in a time where they have been wired to be selfish with their time. Sharing the recipe for success allows for someone else to have a smoother transition in college, and there’s a special kind of gratification knowing that you’ve helped. Students could go on to be a mentor as well.

Seniors are not the only students that can be mentors on campus. Classification does not define experience or the capability to learn from someone else. A mentorship is a two way street and both parties will ultimately end up learning from each other, and seniors should take advantage of what they learn from an underclassmen.

As the semester comes to a close and we realize that our time here is brief, we as students can impact each other through mentorship and should reflect on the benefits received by one or plan to have an individual impact on the student body next year by undertaking the task of mentor or finding a mentor.